Ryze's anxiety grows seeing the man before is being chased after the Ogre. It is a matter of seconds before the man is caught and killed. Ryze mindlessly scrolls through the menu while his other hand grips the one-handed sword.
"HEh?" Ryze becomes confused. He sees an exclamation mark after he opens up the recruitment tab for the generals.
"T-this man looks exactly like the one, being chased by the Ogre. THIS IS A CHANCE!" Ryze yell in excitement.
"Herald! I will grant you the honor of being a part of my kingdom!" Ryze without hesitant recruited Herald and dump the experience cards that initially isn't enough to level up Elizabeth due to level differences, Herald doesn't need that much experience to level up.
"Hahahaha... I've used up everything. If this still doesn't work out, in the end, I have no words to say." Ryze's expression goes grim as he continues to watch the battle unfolds.
Herald continues to run in panic but it didn't take him long to realize that he can run much faster and longer. Unfortunately, he is still not as fast as the Ogre. If not because of the distance that he has taken initially, he would have been caught long ago. Now that his eyesight has improved he could easily spot the high-ranking woman which seems to have broken her left arm. The woman seems to have shoved her broken arm within a space in her hips armor while chasing after the Ogre.
Herald decided to take a risk and stop running. He turns towards the Ogre and drew his composite bow. Pulling it as far as he could, he aims at the leg that is moving forward. The arrow flies and lands at a time when the Ogre's leg is in mid-air. The Ogre subconsciously raise its leg from the back and momentarily forgot about its current momentum. It falls face down but manages to protect its head by putting its left arm first to the ground.
As it falls, Herald already predicted the impact that it will cause. Thus he immediately shoots one more arrow towards the left arm half a second before the Ogre falls.
The ground shook and the earth below it cracks, the sound of the impact is so loud that Ryze subconsciously covers his ears. The cloud of dust rises and move towards the surrounding. Moments later Ryze hears a roar coming out from the Ogre before it slowly dies out.
[You have successfully defeated Ogre level 8]
[11,476 of your troops has been killed]
[3,020 of your troops is seriously injured]
'We won...' Ryze is still unable to believe that Elizabeth had won with a low chance of probability.
If this is still a game no matter how many times Ryze sends her to battle she will still lose against an Ogre level 8.
Only later, once the dust clears up that he sees Elizabeth standing at the back of the Ogre's neck, she appears to be stabbing the Ogre's continuously.
Ryze sigh in relief and slowly walks towards Elizabeth. The crowd of soldiers cheers in victory. Some even cry in relief while others started to find their companions. The moment the transporter team starts to push forward they receive a death glare from the rest of the troops.
"These cowards, only after the battle has ended that they come out to fight."
"The captains even told them to help us out but it just goes to their deaf ears."
"This is ridiculous."
The insults can be heard even while Ryze is walking to Elizabeth. He, himself, cannot blame the transporter team, they are focused on strength, not on agility. Perhaps within 5 seconds in battle, the Ogre could have just wiped them out, in the bigger picture the transporter could have been used as bait if Elizabeth is not the commander.
The man Herald is a huge tilt in this battle, without him, there will never be survivors. Ryze tilts his head up and calls for Elizabeth.
"Elie?"
Half a second later a figure drops from the sky, scaring Ryze in the process.
"Sir Priest, thank you for the guidance." Elizabeth bows sincerely.
Ryze awkwardly nods his head, looking at Elizabeth's conditions, he passes a bottle filled with red juice inside to Elizabeth. Elizabeth's armor from shoulder to her boots has broke. Ryze doesn't know where to look as Elizabeth seems like she is not wearing anything. Even though it's obvious that in this era, military women don't wear comfortable undergarments and mostly wrap their breasts with bandages instead.
"Are you alright?" Elizabeth received the bottle but when she looks at Ryze, he seems to be distracted.
Ryze initially intends to pass his armor to her but looking at her big mount he decided to pass her a cloak instead.
"Drink first, after that wear this."
Elizabeth nods her head and immediately chugged the bottle. She doesn't know the effects of the bottle and due to her loyalty, she drinks without hesitation. Seconds later, as if a miracle has happened, she could feel her bones straighten up and she can move her hand without hurting herself. Her eyes went wide after seeing her own body push out the metal bits that have gone into her body.
"S-Sir, t-this bottle must have been extremely valuable, I don't deserve this! Y-You shouldn't have given it to me." Elizabeth trembles and quickly tries to pass the bottle back to Ryze.
Ryze shakes his head slowly while trying his best to smile. Even though he got dozens of the bottle because of the daily gift.
"You deserve it..."
"T-Then, you will not regret this. My life, body, and soul are all yours. I Elizabeth Alexander the III promise you that I will serve you with riches and honor till death."
Fortunately, Elizabeth did not drop in one knee while saying her vows. She looks down while closing her eyes. That itself is suspicious enough but the troops are behind her back thus they won't know what is happening.
"Cough* Cough* I accept your vow." Ryze sigh in relief but freeze after he makes eye contact with Herald.
"...."
"..."
Elizabeth greets Herald normally after she rises to her feet.
"Great job back there, without you it could have gotten away."
Herald seems to want to ask about their actions but decided not to and turns his head back to the Ogre.
"Finally it is dead. Dear.... my sons, I have revenge you all." Herald mutters while tears falling down his cheeks.
"Hey, why don't you join me? I sure want you to be in my battalion." Elizabeth calls out.
"I won't ever. I am here to thank you for your assistance by bringing it down." Herald turns and walks back.
Elizabeth shrugs her shoulder and pats the Ogre.
"Let's bring this thing back. TROOPS ASSEMBLE!"
'What? You are leaving just like that? I've spent so many experience cards on you. You ungrateful bastard. Sigh... Oh well, but I can control him to defeat the enemies around.'
Ryze moves back to his department but by then, most of the troops look at him suspiciously.
"What is your relationship with the general?" One of Ryze's mates asks.
"Eh... C-comrades?"
"What's up with that?"
"No matter, you have no excuse for leaving the platoon without my permission. You will be punished when we get back."
"Yes sir!"
Ryze is not that depressed because he also found out that he can recruit himself as a general. He can't help but laugh out loud. He can make himself strong enough that he will not suffer in exhaustion during multiple days of the journies ahead. He also needs to safe keep these valuable experience cards that are reliable enough that could turn things around.
At the end of the day, Elizabeth looks upset. As the transporter does not have enough carts to bring back the Ogre body. It has already filled much of the dead from the troops that did not make it. In the end, Elizabeth cuts the ear of the Ogre as her souvenir. The ear itself fits one cart. Ryze doesn't think that even if there are no casualties on their side, they will not be able to bring the Ogre back as a whole.
Despite winning the battle, the troops aren't celebrating as much as they did previously. Losing more than half of the troops hit them badly. They can't help but glance at their generals that had her armor broken. If not for Ryze for passing the cloak that he had, all of the troops will not be able to stop themselves to look at Elizabeth's beautiful and smooth white skin.
Along the way, some of the troops that are inflicted with serious injuries pass away. What worse is that the weather didn't help them out at all. It starts pouring down hard causing the transporter to have difficulties in pushing the carts.
As they are crossing the lands. Unexpectedly What are you doing here?" Elizabeth calls out another general that supposes to be out hunting monsters is right in front of her.
"Well you may not believe me but I've received instructions from the god himself... To go to this coordinate." Austin steps forth and passes the note that he had written to Elizabeth.
"This is..." Elizabeth went speechless
"T-The same coordinates as us!" The captain under Elizabeth couldn't help but yell.
"I guess I was too late. I'm sorry." Austin feels bad for not being able to help out.
Austin continues to stare at the fallen that is piling up the carts. He also can't help but look at Elizabeth's armor condition.
"What are you waiting for around here is what I may ask." Elizabeth enquires as general Austin should be making their way to the coordinates instead of just waiting around.
"You might not believe it but the instructions that I was given falter. I felt that God informs me that either I am too late or you guys manage to defeat whatever was there. Don't mind me asking, what was it that you encounter?" Austin asks while he frowns looking at the number of fallen that the transporter is carrying back.
"Ogre...One with intelligence." Elizabeth didn't hesitate and inform general Austin about the enemy.
"My god! The one that is supposed to be a legend?" Austin's eyes went wide upon hearing the enemy that Elizabeth encounter.
"Austin we can talk later, my soldiers need their rest." Elizabeth knew that Austin loves to chat, the longer they stay, the higher chance that other enemies will attack.
"Of course! Men! Help out the transporters! Move the injured to the carriage." Austin starts directing his men and surprisingly helps out the transport department.
"You brought a carriage with you?" Elizabeth asks while she expresses her confusion.
The journey to the village is not a smooth path, there are a lot of hills and muddy areas which will delay the rest of the department.
"Hahaha don't be surprised! I did some modifications and make it possible to go through difficult terrains. It doesn't hurt to be able to send back anyone that is currently seriously injured." Austin boasts about his creation to Elizabeth.
"Interesting. Do, modify some of mine will yeah? I pay you." Elizabeth chuckled as she walks off.
"Haah! It will be expensive. MEN! LET'S GO BACK TO OUR KINGDOM!"
"HYAA!"
Meanwhile, Ryze is looking at the dead in the cart that he is currently pushing. The man that initially threatens him previously is lying down peacefully. Except its body had become meat paste as it was stepped on by the Ogre.